SDA announces agreement for organic trade equivalence

CHICAGO, Ill. — Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced a first-of-its-kind agreement has been reached between the United States and Canada that will expand opportunities for organic producers in both countries.

The “equivalency agreement” follows a review by both nations of the other’s organic certification program and a determination that products meeting the standard in the U.S. can be sold as organic in Canada, and vice versa.

“The production of organic foods is a vibrant growth opportunity for American agriculture, and by agreeing on a common set of organic principles with Canada, we are expanding market opportunities for our producers to sell their products abroad,” said Merrigan. “Today’s agreement between the world’s two largest organic trading partners is an important first step towards global harmonization of organic standards.”

Under a determination of equivalence, producers and processors that are certified to the National Organic Program (NOP) standards by a USDA-accredited certifying agent do not have to become certified to the Canada Organic Product Regulation (COPR) standards in order for their products to be represented as organic in Canada. Likewise, Canadian organic products certified to COPR standards may be sold or labeled in the U.S. as organically produced. The COPR went into effect June 30.

Group gets OK to bring
hogs to Ohio Statehouse

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — An animal rights group has won approval to bring three hogs to Ohio’s state capitol grounds for a protest against large-scale hog farms.

The panel that oversees the Statehouse also agreed to let People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) use a sound system during its July 9 event to blare what the group says are recorded screams of piglets. But that’s where the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board drew the line. It said no to PETA’s request to bring gallons of urine, a load of manure and a fan to blow odors around.
PETA says it wants to give lawmakers, Statehouse visitors and others a look at what it describes as the cruelty and unsanitary conditions of large hog-producing operations. And, it wants people to go vegetarian.

Four in Iowa sentenced to
probation for abusing pigs

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Four people charged with abusing pigs at a farm in western Iowa have pleaded guilty and been sentenced to probation.

The abuse was uncovered by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which sent an undercover investigator to the farm near Bayard. The investigator filmed the abuse and a graphic video of it was released last year.

Richard Ralston, 28, and Alan Rettig, 60, pled guilty June 24 in Green County District Court to one count of livestock abuse and were sentenced to two years of probation. Greg Hackler pled guilty June 22 to one count of livestock abuse and was sentenced to one year of probation.

Jordan Anderson, 26, pled guilty June 22 to one count of aiding and abetting livestock abuse and was sentenced to two years of probation. He was granted a deferred judgment, meaning if he successfully completes probation the charge will be erased from his record.

All the men except for Anderson were prohibited from working with livestock during their probation.

The four were employees at the farm, which is owned by MowMar Farms LLP of Fairmont, Minn., and supplies Hormel Foods Corp. of Austin, Minn.

A fifth defendant, Shawn Lyons, 36, pled guilty in January to one count of neglect of livestock and was sentenced to six months of probation. A sixth, Shelly Mauch, was charged with animal cruelty. Her case is pending.

6 horses killed in Isabella County, owner arrested
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (AP) — Police said six sick and starving horses have been put down in Isabella County and their owner will face charges of animal cruelty.

WSGW-AM reported the horses euthanized were among 11 discovered June 21 in Denver Township after a tip. Two horses immediately were euthanized, and four more were killed on June 22. The remaining five have been taken to an Isabella County farm by the Humane Society.

The Saginaw News reported the horses’ owner is a 47-year-old Mount Pleasant man who was arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty.

Michigan high court won’t hear animal farms case
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The state Supreme Court won’t consider whether Michigan’s program regulating 200 large livestock and poultry farms violates the federal Clean Water Act. The order released June 24 is a victory for the Sierra Club and a defeat for the state Department of Environmental Quality.

Concentrated animal feeding operations generate manure that’s spread on farm fields. Runoff can pollute streams with bacteria found in animal waste. A divided state appeals court ruled in 2008 that Michigan was giving farms too much authority to adopt their own rates for spreading manure.

The high court voted 5-2 to not hear the state’s appeal. Justices Stephen Markman and Maura Corrigan wanted to hear the case, saying the issues are important for Michigan’s agricultural economy.